How I Lost You

The all-too-relatable tale of two inseparable best friends, Grace and Kya, as they struggle when their relationship begins to fall apart. It s a cute summer read, perfect for any girl who s faced tough times with her own BFF. –Entertainment Weekly s Shelf Life

Buds Before Studs. Sisters Before Misters. That s the mantra repeated by best friends Grace and Kya. But the two couldn t be more different; in spite of a shared love of playing paintball, and a desire to join the all-women s team at Seattle University, Kya has a painful past, and it s causing her to make poor decisions. This means one boy after the next, boozy nights, and letting Grace down time and again. And Grace takes it time and again. Eventually, Grace has to make the difficult decision many teens face: stick by your friend no matter what or finally prioritize your own needs and wants. While the do what s right for you message feels a bit heavy-handed at times, and readers may have trouble identifying what it is Grace sees in manipulative Kya, the novel explores female friendships in a thought-provoking way. The paintball plotline adds a unique angle, as does the presence of a third close friend who happens to be a guy. There s no hurt quite like best friend hurt, and that s something Gurtler captures well. –Ann Kelley